Manually-propelled life-saving device and attachment for boats



E. BELLMAN. MANUALLY PROPELiED LIFE SAVING DEVICEAND ATTACHMENT FOR BOATS. "APPLICATION men A PR. 2e, 921.

1 ,401,233,. "Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

Edward E1 IIman wm/ Y ilk- EDWARD BELLMAN, OF EVANSVILLE, WISCONSIN.

MANUALLY-PROIELLED LIFE-SAVING- DEVIGE AND ATTACHMENT FOR :IBOATS.

Application filed April 26,

To all whom it may come m:

Be it known that I, EDWARD BELLMAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Evansville, in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Manually-Propelled Life-Saving Devices and Attachments for Boats; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to a new and improved manually propelled life saving device and attachment for boats, whereby the occupant of the boat may propel and steer the same while in either sitting or lying position.

One object of my invention is to construct a boat of this kind which will be in the nature of a novelty to be used for various forms of popular aquatic sportsat summer resorts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a propelling device which may be attached to any row boat, canoe, or, in fact, to any device to be propelled over the water and which may be operated by a person sitting or lying therein.

Another object of the invention is to construct a life saving device which will be practically unsinkable and will thoroughly protect the occupant from the waves no matter how rough they may be.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section as indicated by the line 11 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the boat without the cover, as indicated by line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view thereof.

The boat comprises the lower portion 5 which is made of a shape and size to conveniently accommodate a single person lying prone therein. It will be understood, how ever, that in fair weather with the cover removed the occupant may sit up in the same position. as in an ordinary boat.

This boat is provided with suitable air tight compartments 6 to render the same buoyant. At the rear end of the portion 5, I provide a propeller 7 of the usual type carried by the shaft 8, and extending with in reach of the operators feet where pedals 9 are provided which are operatively con- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 2'7, 1321.

1921. Serial No. 464,574.

nected to the shaft 8 by a beveled gearing 10. I i

The shaft 8 is carried within a sleeve 11 which is adjustable longitudinally within this adjustment is to enable the pedals to be adjusted to accommodate persons of differ ent height.

A rudder let is carried on the shaft. 15 which is rotatable in the bearings 16 ex; tending from the rear end of the boat. Arms 17 are provided for swinging the rudder to steer the boat, and the extremities of these arms are secured to a flexible cable 18, which passes over the sheaves 19 to a point within reach of the operators hands.

Lateral planes 20 are also provided which are mounted on the shaft 21 which may be rocked by means of the handle 22. These planes are for the purpose of guiding the boat up and down.

My boat may be operated on the surface of the Water without a cover, but for the purpose of converting; it when desired for use in rough water, I provide a cover 23 which is also provided with air tight c0n1- partments 24. This cover is adapted to fit tightly and may be securely attached by the person within the boat, by means of the bolts 26, which are secured in the brackets 25 attached to the sides of the boat and its cover.

I also provide an opening 27 through which a mirror 28 mounted on top of the cover, is visible to a person lying within the boat. This mirror 28 enables the person lying within the boat to observe his surroundings and see any object which he may be approaching.

It will readily be understood from the foregoing description, that my invention may be readily adapted to many different kinds of aquatic sports. For example, it may be used without a cover to ride along the surface of the water, and the operator clad in a bathing suit may raise or lower the planes 20 to pass over or through the water. It is to be borne in mind that the boat will not sink even though filled with water since the air tight compartments render it buoyant.

When a person wishes to use it as a life boat he gets inside and secures the cover thereon by means of the bolts 26. He may propeller to revolve the same, and means p then propel himself in the boat over the surface, ol the Water, guiding himselfby means of the rudder 14: and using the planes toke ep the boat above the surface. He

'peller, pedals operatively connected to said can also observe the direction in which he 1s going and any Qb ectsWhich he may be approaching by means of the mirror 28.

He Will be absolutely safe from drowning, no matter how violent the Waves may be.

While I have described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be gitudinallytoaecommodate persons of different height, V

2; A boat -provided with a revoluble propropeller to revolve the same, a cover for said boat adapted to form therewith, a closed compartment Within which a person may lie with his feet Within reach of said pedals, meansby which theeover may -'be securely attached by a person Within said compartment, a Ivvindowin' said cover anda mirror on topfof said cover and visible through said window to a person lying in the boat.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Evansville,

consin.

EDWARD BELLMAN. 

